Archive for May, 2007

Downtown Diversion is a 13-acre facility in the Los Angeles area that recycles construction material waste in order to create new construction material. Instead of lining landfills with a surplus of asphalt, lumber, concrete, drywall, metal, cardboard, and other material, the facility recycles what it can from this waste, preserving both the environment and the material.

President and CEO of Downtown Diversion, Mike Hammer, state that “For every ton of new construction, there is 10 times as much waste,” and that it is necessary for the city to recycle. Since its founding in 2003, Downtown Diversion has processed roughly 500,000 tons of trash back into the construction industry. On a daily basis, the facility processes 1500 tons of waste everyday. The source of all the material waste that is recycled comes mainly from destroyed buildings, where they pick out all the material that can be recycled. Hammer stated that Downtown Diversion preserves 75% of the waste material listed above.

Although diverting waste is a small industry right now, it is expected to grow as time progresses. It may even become a necessity as landfill and dumping sites reach maximum capacity. Currently however, it is cheaper to dump than to recycle, which drives many companies to continue.

Police in Salt Lake City recently broke open a construction equipmenttheft crime ring. It is reported that the men caught typically were employed as construction workers during the day, and spent their nights stealing heavy equipment.

Policeman further reported that many thieves raid construction sites to pay for drug habits. Dave Broadhead of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office stated that thieves steal a variety of equipment, even paint sprayers and regular construction tools. He also said that thieves target copper because they can sell it as stripped metal for $2.50 a pound, making it relatively easy to pick up some extra money. A single contractor has been hit 6 times in two months, suffering a $20,000 loss in stolen equipment.

Houston police have also uncovered significant amounts of construction site theft. They just concluded a 15 month investigation in which they arrested 57 suspects relating to construction site theft.

Officer Craig Kivela, of the Central Patrol Division, believes that these suspects are directed by a small group of ringleaders, and that there are an estimated 40 related cases of theft. More than $200,000 worth of vehicles and material have been recovered.

Increasing construction increases the opportunity of equipment theft. Authorities warn that there is a market of thieves just waiting to steal property and equipment at construction sites. Implementing basic and fundamental security procedures will likely decrease the amount of construction theft.

Crane operator Larry Welsh is your everyday kind of guy. He works, has a family, and attends church. The fact that Welsh spends 9-12 hours a day operating his crane would appear normal as well. Except he is 190 feet in the air when he does it.

Everyday for the last 23 years Welsh starts his work day by climbing 200 steps to the top of his tower crane. He currently operates the Terex Peiner model. At times his days are slow and boring, just as any job can be. However, Welsh is not your average Joe when it comes to what he has experienced on the job. He has been in 50-60 m.p.h. windstorms and had his crane struck by lightning, (while 190 feet in the air mind you). He receives his lunch in a bucket that is tied to a rope. Not to mention the owls, falcons, and other birds he sees. But Welsh explains “the craziest thing was when I was working on a 45-story building and I got to the 33rd floor and as I got to the landing — there is one every 13 feet — I heard something growl at me. I had no idea what that could be and I look over and there is a raccoon on the landing on the crane.”

The crane Welsh operates currently is said to be one of the largest, or perhaps the largest, crane in Georgia. Welsh is one of the few who knows what it is literally like to “live the high life.”

Paul Freedman, President of Simlog, visited the headquarters for NAHETS, the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools, on Monday April 23, 2007. Freedman was awarded an associate membership in NAHETS and wasnpresented with a plaque from NAHETS president, Matt Klabacka.

Freedman granted yellowmetal.tv an interview regarding the significance of simulators in the training of heavy equipment operators.

According to Freedman, simulators are an essential element in the quality offered by heavy equipment training schools. “Simulators can never replace seat time; however, they do allow an individual the opportunity to enhance their skills”

Simlog was founded in 1999 to commercialize training simulation technology developed at CRIM, one of Canada’s leading research institutes in information technologies.

The Simlog website states:

Today, Simlog is a very special simulator company, for these three reasons:

1. Simlog has a unique product focus: Simlog is pioneering a brand new kind of simulator product called Personal Simulator which leverages the power of your PC to finally provide truly cost-effective training help for heavy equipment operators. Tangible recognition has come in the form of several innovation awards:
* Canadian Construction Association in 2006 for our Hydraulic Excavator Personal Simulator
* Construction Innovation Forum in 2004 for our Mobile Crane Personal Simulator

2. Simlog has a unique business focus: heavy equipment operator training in the crane and construction industries, forestry, and mining. We do nothing else. Practically, this means that you can count on Simlog for more and more simulator-based help to address your heavy equipment operator training needs!

3. Simlog has a unique instructional focus: because we are working in multiple heavy equipment industries, we’ve gained special insights into operator training challenges and instructional design for training simulation. Indeed, every Personal Simulator is developed in collaboration with leading equipment manufacturers, their distributors, owner/operators, and training professionals.

Monday, April 30, brought to the Las Vegas, Nevada NAHETS corporate office a visit from the publishing company Prentice Hall-Contren. The visit included a tour of the offices of NAHETS as well as a visit to the Nevada School of Construction field site, as well as an overview of the corporate media development facility and an overview of both the Yellow Metal Bootcamp and the Fas-Trac training series.

While on-site the team was introduced to the field-training aspect as conducted at the site of NAHETS member school Nevada School of Construction. There they were able to view equipment-specific instruction, as well as team projects involving blueprint reading, surveying and site development combining classroom instruction and practical experience combined with equipment applications.

For some who have served in the military, being reunited with fellow soldiers and friends after years of separation is an emotional, sometimes ecstatic experience. Such an experience occurred recently with Gregory Regole, who served for over 12 years. However, this reunion was somewhat unique, because Regole’s reunion was not with a former soldier or friend, but with a piece of heavy equipment.

Regole was a “64 Charlie” – a ‘truck driver’ in civilian language. He operated a 40,000 pound, 36 foot long, 22.5 ton M911 transporter lowboy tractor, used to haul and transport disabled vehicles. After his release from military service in 1995, Regole retired to civilian life in German Valley, where he and his wife, Tracy, operate Bunker Hill Dog Training, Grooming and Specialty Store.

After work one day, Regole took a new route home, where he spotted several military vehicles parked by Allen’s Towing on Route 20. Somewhat surprised, Regole stopped and asked the owner if he could look at the equipment, explaining that he used to operate similar types of equipment. Looking around, he spotted a familiar number-the number of his former unit-on the bumper of a vehicle, and soon discovered his name still painted on the bottom of the driver’s side windshield. Regole knew this was the exact vehicle he operated during his service in the military.

The equipment owner’s daughter, Jane Tegtman, was extremely interested in the discovery and its irony, and reveled in listening to stories of where Regole and the truck traveled in their nine years of service together. Her father Jack Allen, the truck’s current owner, passed away last fall and left everything to his daughter. Tegtman, knowing the sentimental value of the vehicle to Regole, decided to give it to him as a gift. Now Regole plans to restore the heavy machine and put it on display in the German Valley Memorial Park. Before he does, though, Regole plans to be on the move as he spends some time operating his long lost partner.

As reported by Ucatt construction union, the total number of construction deaths rose 25% last year, with a possible increase of 10-15% this year. Contrastingly, the proportion of employee deaths to convictions for companies responsible has decreased from 42% in 1998 to 11% in 2004. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been under verbal attack over this fall of prosecution of the companies and the construction fatalities.

Ucatt general secretary Alan Ritchie is very surprised at the fall of convictions. He asserts that the HSE is not following their own guidelines, and is failing to uphold standards in convicting construction companies responsible for the deaths of workers.

In defense, the HSE deems some of the statistics as “inaccurate.” Chief Executive Geoffrey Podger stated that it is not always possible to get prosecutions, and that there are no prosecutions without convincing evidence and public interest.

Despite the disagreement, one thing is certain…construction deaths are rising again. Even more important than the prosecutions and convictions of companies responsible for the industry deaths, is the issue of how to stop these deaths from happening. The real issue is not about pinning the blame on the industrial companies, it is finding a way to stop the fatalities, whether the companies are at fault or not.

The cost of construction materials and products are rising, and contractors and construction sales people point to a common cause: rising oil costs.

A report from The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) predicts that by the end of the year there will be a 6-8% increase in cost of construction materials. A main cause for this rise is the increase in costs to transport the material, considering that construction companies largely haul their material by road. Higher gasoline prices yield higher costs of materials and products, because companies affected have to make up for higher costs of transporting and producing.

John Stockaci, owner of a general contracting company in North Sewickley Township said that construction costs per square foot have increased from $80 five years ago to $120 now.

On May 2, 2007, the Nevada School of Construction and NAHETS Corporate offices hosted a visit by members of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Lynn Forcia, Division Chief of the Office of Indian Energy & Economic Development-Division of Workforce Development, as well has two of her colleagues, Jody LeCompte-Garrison and Francis Dunne, were taken on a tour of the Nevada Campus and Field Site by Debra Forbush, campus president, and Sharla Patterson, Native American Liaison.

Discussed were the three different levels of Heavy Equipment Operation offered, as well as the Crane Operation program and housing options for out-of-state students. Tuition costs, financial aid, job-placement assistance, and success stories of previous students were also topics of note. While at the field site campus representatives were able to discuss in detail seat time on equipment, practical field site projects, instructor qualifications, and unique teaching techniques, including the use of Ipod’s.

At NAHETS Corporate Offices, the group was given a tour by Mike Martens, Brian Thornton, and Rhett Nielson. Discussed were out Heavy Metal Program, and our soon-to-be implemented online course study. The online course was of particular interest to the visitors as it would potentially cut housing costs for out-of-state students as well as facilitate an intense study of material until a high level of proficiency is met.

They were very impressed with our program and have committed to give our education information to the Native American tribes they visit at least once a year. They also personally invited Sharla Patterson to their National Indian Economic Development Conference in Reno, Nevada on October 31, 2007.

On May 2, 2007, the Nevada School of Construction and NAHETS Corporate offices hosted a visit by members of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Lynn Forcia, Division Chief of the Office of Indian Energy & Economic Development-Division of Workforce Development, as well has two of her colleagues, Jody LeCompte-Garrison and Francis Dunne, were taken on a tour of the Nevada Campus and Field Site by Debra Forbush, campus president, and Sharla Patterson, Native American Liaison.

Discussed were the three different levels of Heavy Equipment Operation offered, as well as the Crane Operation program and housing options for out-of-state students. Tuition costs, financial aid, job-placement assistance, and success stories of previous students were also topics of note. While at the field site campus representatives were able to discuss in detail seat time on equipment, practical field site projects, instructor qualifications, and unique teaching techniques, including the use of Ipod’s.

At NAHETS Corporate Offices, the group was given a tour by Mike Martens, Brian Thornton, and Rhett Nielson. Discussed were out Heavy Metal Program, and our soon-to-be implemented online course study. The online course was of particular interest to the visitors as it would potentially cut housing costs for out-of-state students as well as facilitate an intense study of material until a high level of proficiency is met.

They were very impressed with our program and have committed to give our education information to the Native American tribes they visit at least once a year. They also personally invited Sharla Patterson to their National Indian Economic Development Conference in Reno, Nevada on October 31, 2007.